STATEMENT OF
CHAIRMAN AJIT PAI
Re: 	Amendment of the Commission’s Policies and Rules for Processing Applications in the Direct Broadcast Satellite Service, IB Docket No. 06-160, Report and Order
Under my leadership, the FCC has made significant strides toward streamlining the licensing process for the satellite services that it regulates.  Just last month, for example, the Commission streamlined its processing rules for small satellites—making compliance easier and cheaper to encourage innovation in the small satellite sector.  

But the procedures for direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service satellites, those most commonly used by DIRECTV and DISH to deliver satellite TV, have not been updated for a decade.  Today’s decision largely aligns the processing procedures for DBS with recently-streamlined processing procedures for other fixed-satellite service satellites so that DBS, too, can benefit from the streamlining of our rules for launching satellite services.  Taking this step will facilitate increased use of spectrum and orbital resources while protecting existing consumers of satellite television from harmful interference to their services. 

My thanks to the many Commission staffers working to reform the rules governing DBS service.  I’d like to thank Jose Albuquerque, Stephen Duall, Sean O’More, Jennifer Gilsenan, Tom Sullivan, and Troy Tanner from the International Bureau; and David Horowitz and Doug Klein from the Office of the General Counsel.